Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3835

Full Length Research Paper

Screening for anti-microbial activity and phytochemical constituents of some Nigerian medicinal plants

P. A. Egwaikhide1*, S. O. Okeniyi2 and C. E. Gimba3
1Department of Chemistry and Centre for Biomaterials Research University of Benin, Nigeria. 2Department of Chemistry, Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria. 3Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 13 November 2009
  •  Published: 31 December 2009

Abstract

Anti-microbial activity and phytochemical constituents of methanol extract ofPlumeria rubra (flower and leaf) and Eucalyptus globules (leaf) was investigated. Phytochemical screening of the crude extract revealed the presence of tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugar in the plants investigated. Phlobatanins were found to be absent in the methanol extract of Plumeria rubra (flower) and Eucalyptus globulus (leaf) except the methanol extracts of Plumeria rubra (leaf). All the crude extract displayed higher inhibitory effects at the tested concentration (20 mg/ml) except on Corynebacterium pyogenese and Bacilhis anthracis ofPlumeria rubra leaf and Streptococcus faecalis of Eucalyptus globules leaf. The infra-red (IR) spectra of the crude extract revealed the presence of different functional group ranging from  hydroxyl group (OH) (3406 - 3338.6 cm-1), C-Hstr., alkyl group (2926.6 cm-1), C=O stretching for carbonyls (2162.1 cm-1), C-O bending for alcohols, ethers, esters, carboxylic acid and anhydrides (1310.6 - 1059.6 cm-1), C – H bending alkyl (1453.4 – 1376.2 cm-1) and C – H bending for methyl group (864.1 – 668.4 cm-1).

 

Key words: Anti-microbial activity, phytochemical constituents, phytochemical screening, functional groups, infrared spectra, inhibitory effects.